Queensland Small Business Commissioner

What Queensland Small Business Commissioner does

The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) is a statutory authority of the Queensland Government, established under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022 (Qld), that supports small businesses operating in the Australian state of Queensland. The organisation is headquartered in Brisbane and operates with a lean team of approximately 20 employees. Its remit centres on three pillars: (1) dispute resolution through mediation, primarily for retail and commercial lease disputes with a maximum mediated value of AUD $750,000, conducted by accredited mediators via telephone or video conferencing; (2) policy advocacy and red-tape reduction on behalf of small businesses when dealing with Queensland Government agencies; and (3) education, delivered through factsheets, dispute insights, the monthly Small Business Roundup newsletter, and the Small Business Friendly (SBF) Program and Awards. Mediation is the only fee-bearing service: the FY2025-26 fee is AUD $383.60 per mediation (split equally between parties), with indexation-linked annual increases and fee-waiver provisions for financial hardship.

The QSBC's core technology footprint is modest and non-proprietary: enquiry intake and mediation applications run through an Atlassian Service Desk customer portal, with mediation conferences conducted via standard teleconference/videoconference tools. The organisation does not develop or market a unified software platform; service delivery is mediated by accredited professionals. The Small Business Friendly Program recognises local councils and agencies that demonstrate small-business-friendly practices, extending QSBC's reach beyond dispute resolution into policy influence.

Commercially, QSBC is not a revenue-generating enterprise. It is funded through Queensland State Government appropriations; mediation fees are a nominal cost-recovery mechanism rather than a meaningful revenue stream. Customer outcomes in FY2024-25 included resolution of 71% of leasing disputes and an average resolution time of 36 days, indicating operational effectiveness within a defined mandate. QSBC is not an investable commercial entity; rather, it is a public-sector institution whose value proposition derives from statutory authority (mandatory pre-QCAT mediation for retail shop leases), government-backed credibility, and integration with Queensland's broader small-business support ecosystem (Business Queensland, QCAT, Department of Justice, ASBFEO, QBCC).

Name

Queensland Small Business Commissioner

Legal name

Queensland Small Business Commissioner

Website

https://qsbc.qld.gov.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) is a statutory authority of the Queensland Government that delivers low-cost mediation for retail and commercial lease disputes, policy advocacy, and small-business education to Queensland small businesses, landlords, and property agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Queensland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a Queensland Government statutory body, the QSBC is funded through government appropriations rather than commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) is a Queensland Government statutory authority that provides dispute resolution through mediation for retail shop lease and commercial lease disputes (up to $750,000), advocates on behalf of small businesses with government agencies, and delivers educational resources and a Small Business Friendly recognition program. Services include accredited mediator-led conferences conducted via telephone or video, statutory mediation as a mandatory pathway to QCAT, and free factsheets on leasing topics.

Product overview

The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) provides a suite of services to support small businesses in Queensland, primarily focused on commercial and retail lease dispute resolution and advocacy. The core offerings include mediation services for lease disputes, the Small Business Friendly Program, and comprehensive educational resources including factsheets on leasing topics. The service operates through an online portal for enquiries and mediation applications, supplemented by telephone support. QSBC does not offer a unified software platform but rather delivers its services through individual web pages, downloadable factsheets, and mediated dispute resolution sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mediation Services for Lease Disputes

Quantifiable outcome

• 71% of leasing disputes resolved in 2024-25 FY
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)coreOthersQCAT is the formal tribunal body that hears retail shop lease disputes after QSBC mediation is attempted. The QSBC mediator must refer unresolved retail shop lease disputes to QCAT. QCAT has jurisdiction for retail shop leases but not commercial (non-retail shop) leasing disputes.
• Department of Justice - Dispute Resolution BranchsupportingOthersFree mediation service for business-related disputes including shop neighbours, contract disputes, and disputes between business partners. QSBC refers parties to this service when appropriate.
• Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerQSBC refers franchise disputes to ASBFEO due to requirements of the national Franchise Code. ASBFEO maintains a mediator panel used by QSBC for private mediation referrals.
• Business QueenslandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIntegrated partnership with Business Queensland (Queensland Government) for delivery of small business support services including Business Assist, Mentoring for Growth, Small Business Financial Counsellors, and Small Business Wellness Coaches.
• Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)supportingOthersFor construction industry payment disputes, QBCC provides adjudication services under the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act. QSBC refers parties to QBCC for these specific matters.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Western Australian Small Business Commissioner: WA's statutory advocate for small businesses, providing dispute resolution and education services, particularly around commercial leasing. Directly comparable state-level peer.
• Small Business Commission Tasmania: Tasmanian state-level body providing small business advice, advocacy and dispute support. Functions as a smaller-jurisdiction analogue of QSBC.
• Office of the ACT Small Business Commissioner: ACT-based statutory office offering mediation and advocacy services for small businesses, with similar jurisdiction-based scope to QSBC.
• South Australian Small Business Commissioner: South Australia's statutory office supporting small businesses through mediation, advocacy and education. Closely aligned function and statutory remit to QSBC.
• NSW Small Business Commission: State-level small business commission providing mediation, advocacy and education to NSW small businesses on retail and commercial lease disputes. Closest functional analogue to QSBC.
• Northern Territory Small Business Commissioner: NT's statutory advocate for small businesses, providing dispute resolution and education services. Operates as a smaller-jurisdiction peer with a similar remit to QSBC.
• Victorian Small Business Commission: Victoria's state-level body offering mediation, advice and advocacy for small businesses, with a strong focus on retail leasing disputes. Directly comparable mandate and service mix to QSBC.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO): Federal small business ombudsman handling dispute resolution, advocacy and policy work across Australia. Comparable in function but operates nationally, including a mediator panel that QSBC itself uses for franchise referrals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qsbcommissioner

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Queensland Small Business Commissioner